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Gait Biomechanics While Walking Down an Incline After Exhaustion

Halder, Amitava LU ; Nordin, Axel LU ; Miller, Michael LU and Gao, Chuansi LU (2023) In Fire Technology 59(4). p.1833-1863
Abstract

This gait biomechanics study investigated stride length (SL), stride duration (SDN), the peak values of ground reaction forces (GRFspeak), required coefficient of friction (RCOFpeak), leg joints’ angles (anglepeak), angular velocity (angvelx.peak), angular acceleration (angaccx.peak), minimum angle (anglemin.) of the foot, and muscles’ electromyography (EMG) during the stance phase (SP) of the dominant leg following an exhaustive stair ascent on a stair machine. Data were collected by a three-dimensional motion capture system synchronized with EMG and force plate while walking down a 10° inclined stationary walkway. Although the leg muscles’ EMG showed no significant... (More)

This gait biomechanics study investigated stride length (SL), stride duration (SDN), the peak values of ground reaction forces (GRFspeak), required coefficient of friction (RCOFpeak), leg joints’ angles (anglepeak), angular velocity (angvelx.peak), angular acceleration (angaccx.peak), minimum angle (anglemin.) of the foot, and muscles’ electromyography (EMG) during the stance phase (SP) of the dominant leg following an exhaustive stair ascent on a stair machine. Data were collected by a three-dimensional motion capture system synchronized with EMG and force plate while walking down a 10° inclined stationary walkway. Although the leg muscles’ EMG showed no significant local muscle fatigue (LMF) during post-exhaustive walking downwards, the SL was significantly (p < 0.05) shorter than the pre-exhaustive. The mean vertical GRFzpeak. was significantly (p ≤.01) reduced during late stance (LS) phase, however, the antero-posterior GRFypeak. was found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.01) higher. The RCOFpeak. was significantly (p ≤.05) higher during the post-exhaustive walking downwards, LS phase. The available coefficient of friction value of ~ 0.350 seems to be the RCOF to reduce slips and falls on an inclined dry surface. None of the post-exhaustive lower limb joints’ anglepeak, anglemin., ang.velx.peak, and ang.accx.peak were significantly changed in post-exhaustion walking, except the knee ang.accx.peak., which was significantly (p < 0.05) increased during the LS period. The constrained post-exhaustive gait biomechanics indicate a perturbed gait, which may increase the risks for slips and fall-related accidents, when walking downwards and working on slopes. However, the non-significant joint angle changes imply that walking down is less demanding in a kinesiological perspective compared to walking up an incline.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Localized muscle fatigue, Fall accidents, Incline gait biomechanics, Required coefficient of friction, Gait ground reaction forces, Electromyography
in
Fire Technology
volume
59
issue
4
pages
1833 - 1863
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85153864571
ISSN
1572-8099
DOI
10.1007/s10694-023-01402-x
project
Physical work capacity and biomechanical aspects as limiting factors in challenging environments
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7806e531-60b3-4d02-8183-fe49f20c81a9
date added to LUP
2023-04-30 10:58:19
date last changed
2023-11-21 17:32:04
@article{7806e531-60b3-4d02-8183-fe49f20c81a9,
  abstract     = {{<p>This gait biomechanics study investigated stride length (SL), stride duration (SDN), the peak values of ground reaction forces (GRFs<sub>peak</sub>), required coefficient of friction (RCOF<sub>peak</sub>), leg joints’ angles (angle<sub>peak</sub>), angular velocity (ang<sub>velx.peak</sub>), angular acceleration (ang<sub>accx.peak</sub>), minimum angle (angle<sub>min.</sub>) of the foot, and muscles’ electromyography (EMG) during the stance phase (SP) of the dominant leg following an exhaustive stair ascent on a stair machine. Data were collected by a three-dimensional motion capture system synchronized with EMG and force plate while walking down a 10° inclined stationary walkway. Although the leg muscles’ EMG showed no significant local muscle fatigue (LMF) during post-exhaustive walking downwards, the SL was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) shorter than the pre-exhaustive. The mean vertical GRFz<sub>peak.</sub> was significantly (p ≤.01) reduced during late stance (LS) phase, however, the antero-posterior GRFy<sub>peak.</sub> was found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.01) higher. The RCOF<sub>peak.</sub> was significantly (p ≤.05) higher during the post-exhaustive walking downwards, LS phase. The available coefficient of friction value of ~ 0.350 seems to be the RCOF to reduce slips and falls on an inclined dry surface. None of the post-exhaustive lower limb joints’ angle<sub>peak</sub>, angle<sub>min.</sub>, ang.<sub>velx.peak</sub>, and ang.<sub>accx.peak</sub> were significantly changed in post-exhaustion walking, except the knee ang.<sub>accx.peak.</sub>, which was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased during the LS period. The constrained post-exhaustive gait biomechanics indicate a perturbed gait, which may increase the risks for slips and fall-related accidents, when walking downwards and working on slopes. However, the non-significant joint angle changes imply that walking down is less demanding in a kinesiological perspective compared to walking up an incline.</p>}},
  author       = {{Halder, Amitava and Nordin, Axel and Miller, Michael and Gao, Chuansi}},
  issn         = {{1572-8099}},
  keywords     = {{Localized muscle fatigue; Fall accidents; Incline gait biomechanics; Required coefficient of friction; Gait ground reaction forces; Electromyography}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{1833--1863}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Fire Technology}},
  title        = {{Gait Biomechanics While Walking Down an Incline After Exhaustion}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/145524822/HalderAmitava_et_al._2023_Effects_of_exhaustion_on_gait_biomechanics_down_an_incline.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10694-023-01402-x}},
  volume       = {{59}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}